Automatic rail-coupling.



I I I F. E. SCHNEIDER.

AUTOMATIC RAIL COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8. 1916.

l 1 76, 99 l Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

V I I I gwuento'a F xhlmeoom THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 120.. WASHINGTON,n.

FREDRICK E. SCHNEIDER, F POND DU LAC, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 MAURICEMCKENNA, OF FOND DU LAG, WISCONSIN.

AUTOMATIC RAIL-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 8, 1916. Serial No. 70,990.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRICK E. SCENE} DER, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Fond du Lac, in the county of Fond du Lacand State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Rail-Coupl1ngs, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This inventionrelates to a rail coupling and has for its object theproduction of a simple and efficient means for automatically couplingthe ends of abutting rails without the necessity of employing bolts orother detachable means for passing through the coupling and rails.

Another object of this inventlon is the production of a simple andefiicient rail cou pling which will firmly grip the rails and hold thesame against longitudinal movement within the coupling.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certainother constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coupling showing thesame engaging a pair of rails. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of thecoupling. Fig. 8 is a sectlon taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4is adetail perspective of one section of the coupling.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that the rail couplingherein described comprises a section land a second section 2. Thesection 1 and the second section 2 of the coupling are similarlyconstructed and are preferably formed of resilient metal to firmly andefficiently grip the web portions of the rail 3. Each of the sections isprovided upon the bottom thereof with an inturned longitudinallyextending flange 4. A base plate 5 fits upon the flange 4t of thesection 1 and a base plate 6 fits upon the flange 4c of the section. 2.The base plates 5 and 6 are provided with rolled portions 7 throughwhich the pintle 8 passes for hingedly connecting the two plates 5 and 6together. The pintle 8 is provided with an enlarged head 9 at one endwhich limits the movement of the pintle in one direction and a cotterpin 10 passes through the opposite end of the pintle 8 for limiting themovement of the pintle 8 in an tom plate of this channel 11. The sideedges of the base plates 5 and 6 are firmly clamped and held within thechannels 11.

Each of the sections 1 and 2 is provided with an upwardly extending webengaging portion 1'. A plurality of spaced lugs 13 are carried by theinner face of each flange 12 and are adapted to fit in the apertures 1 1formed in the rails The lugs 13 upon the section 1 are staggered withrespect to the lugs formed upon the section 2 so as to have the lugs ofone section engage the alternate apertures formed in the abutting railsIt shbuld be understood that the pintle 8 is adapted to have its endsabut against the ties 15 and thereby hold the coupling againstlongitudinal movement with respect to the ties 15. Spikes 16 are driveninto the ties 15 and overhang the channel portions 11 for firmly holdingthe respective sections of the coupling in engagement with the rails 3and also the ties 15.

What is claimed is 1. A coupling of the class described comprising apair of sections, each section pr0- vided with a longitudinallyextending channel along the side thereof, a pair of plates hingedlyconnected together and fitting in said channels, means for securing saidsections to a support, and a rail gripping means carried by saidsections.

2. A rail coupling of the class described comprising a primary and anauxiliary section, base plates engaging said sections, said base platesprovided with rolled portions, a pintle passing through said rolledportions, the ends of said sections extending beyond the ends of saidpintle, said pintle adapted to fit between a pair of supporting ties,means for clamping said coupling to a pair of railroad ties and railengaging means carried by said coupling.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

FREDRIGK E. SCHNEIDER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G."

